jenny, Author at Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine

The 2024 Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain

The Rita Allen Foundation has provided a special award for early-career leaders in basic pain research whose work holds high potential for uncovering new pathways to improve the treatment of chronic pain. The Foundation has awarded annually two grants or more in the amount of $150,000 over three years to early-career investigators pursuing innovative research that focuses on basic science mechanisms of pain. Candidates should be in the early stages of their career with an appointment at the faculty level. More information about applying for this award, offered in partnership with the U.S. Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), including a link to the application portal as well as detailed application guidelines and instructions, can be found on the USASP website: https://www.usasp.org/rita-allen-foundation-award-in-pain. Applications are due December 14, 2023.

Question of the Month – December 2023

A 15-year-old, female, softball player presents for left knee ACL reconstruction with autograft, following a knee injury few weeks ago. The patient denies any numbness or weakness in her leg at this time, but active knee movement is limited by pain. Her past medical history and physical exam are otherwise unremarkable. Strength is perceived as 5/5 in all muscles tested. Sensation was normal in the affected lower extremity. For pain management, left femoral nerve block is done with 0.2% ropivacaine (10 ml) under ultrasound guidance, and femoral catheter left in place, after anesthesia induction, prior to surgical incision. iPACK block is done at the end. GETA is otherwise uneventful and surgical tourniquet time is noted to be 92 minutes. In the recovery room, she is pain-free. She is discharged home with nerve catheter in place infusing 0.15% ropivacaine @8 ml/hr with instructions for catheter care. She was followed by pain service while catheter is in place, and removal at home on postoperative day 3. Over this time there were no motor deficits reported. On routine post-surgical follow up 2 weeks after surgery in orthopedic clinic, she complains of persistent numbness in medial aspect of knee to foot. On exam, she also has weakness 3/5 with knee extension and has been unable to participate in physical therapy. The orthopedic surgeon refers the patient to the anesthesiologist who performed the block for further assessment. After a thorough exam and discussion, referral to neurology is placed. Electromyography/nerve conduction studies are conducted a week later which reveal neurapraxia.

Please select which of the following features will most help make the diagnosis of neurapraxia:

A. Neurapraxia is associated with myelin damage to the peripheral nerve

B. Nerve conduction velocity testing reveals loss of conduction velocity and loss of continuity of axons

C. EMG findings include fibrillations and loss of activation of larger motor unit potentials

D. Neurapraxia is associated with a poor prognosis

Correct! Wrong!

Question of the Month - December 2023

Giving Tuesday – November 28, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for being part of SPPM, a Society dedicated to “Better Care of Children in Pain.” Your work, engagement and the vital contributions to pediatric pain management have made a difference to children’s lives, but together we can strive to do even more.

On this Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023, when communities, organizations and individuals are coming together to transform our world through their generosity, we hope you will consider donating to the SPPM Education and Research Fund. We as members of the SPPM community make pain relief a priority. This is and will continue to be a work in progress. As pendulums swing back and forth, we must never lose sight of our goal of excellent pain management, while minimizing or preventing adverse side effects.

No contribution is too small and each contribution is a step towards better pediatric pain relief.

Make a Difference Today. Click HERE to donate.

Best wishes/Happy Holidays/Thank You.

Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, MPH
SPPM President

SPPM 11th Annual Meeting – Registration is OPEN!

Please join us for the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM) 11th Annual Meeting at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, CA on April 11, 2024*.

We hope to see you in Anaheim! However, if you are unable to join us in-person, please register to attend virtually.

Click here to learn more about the program!

*Join us on April 10, 2024 for optional workshops.

Ultrasound-guided Spinal Anesthesia in Infants: A Narrative Review

A new narrative review has been published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine by several SPPM members from Boston Children’s Hospital, on the use of ultrasound for spinal anesthesia in infants, as a tool to improve first pass success. The paper includes tips, various techniques to improve success for the procedure and ultrasound images.

Study can be found here: https://rapm.bmj.com/content/48/12/608

Member Menu

The 2024 Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain

Question of the Month – December 2023

Giving Tuesday – November 28, 2023

SPPM 11th Annual Meeting – Registration is OPEN!

Ultrasound-guided Spinal Anesthesia in Infants: A Narrative Review

Upcoming Meeting Information